Just about a year ago, around this time. I was looking into teacher training programs to become a certified yoga teacher. If you read my yoga journey story, you know that I started practicing yoga around 3-4years ago , but it’s not after I came back from my trip to Asia that I felt the impulse to try it again. And little did I know that 8 months later, I would be on my way to my very first 200 hours of ttc. I took this TTC seach very seriously and really did my homework. I finally decided to go with JIVANI YOGA school in Costa Rica. Since then, time has flown by and I absolutely love teaching and sharing my love for moving the body with breath and getting sweaty!

How do you pick? How do you know which training is the right one? Because I know how confusing it can be with the bazillion options there are out there in the wild, I want to share the 5 questions everyone should ask themselves , when searching for the right ttc.

What are you looking for in a teacher training ?

First , you want to know what type of yoga you prefer. Theres tons of different trainings and teachers out there who may have a totally different vision than you do. Remember you will be spending 200 hours (if not more) learning and breathing about the type of yoga you choose. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions about the program and the type of yoga you will be learning to teach. Some trainings are deeply based on philosophy and mudras meanwhile others are more focused on physical asana and alignment. The curriculum should make you feel excited and interested. So that you don’t find yourself in an awkward position (like literally.)

Is it a yoga alliance registered school?

Making sure the school or training your attending is RYS certified will save you time & money after you graduate if you decide that teaching is truly what you want to do. I honestly haven’t had any studio asking me if I was registered with yoga alliance. But it is better if you are in the long run.

In what environnement do you want to be in?

This my friends is crucial. You will be spending a whole month in the same environnement so you want to choose wisely. Do you like warm weather ? Do you mind insects? Do you want to have access to the beach , or live on top of a tibetan mountain ? I know I wanted to have the beach close, surrounded by nature but not too far from the city. I live in the coldest country in the world. If I leave for a month, you can be sure it will be to remind myself that not all human beings live in polar bear land.

What does formal TTC graduates say about the training ?

At the end of the day , what matters is what you think about the training. But it doesnt hurt to check out the reviews or feedbacks from students that already graduated. Searching on youtube can be a good way to do so. At some point I was literally breathing and eating videos about graduates testimonials.

What is your budget & time commitement ?

Once you know how much time you’re able to spend on your training and how much your willing to pay. It will become much easier to find the one that suits you. Some trainings can be done on weekends, others are fully immersive (you have to live somewhere for a month) etc etc. Same goes for the cost of the training, the average is around 2000-5000 depending on where it is. Trainings that have accommodation and food included can help reduce the cost.

The most important thing is that you do your research and trust that you will find the right one. I believe nothing happens for nothing in life. If you’re meant to go to a training it could never be the ” wrong” training. No matter which one you choose, it will most probably be a life changing experience that will make you grow and learn so many incredible things.

I wish you the best of luck and cheers to being a badass yoga teacher, mate!